Plate-holder



(No M l) PLATE HOL R.

No. 399,024. Patented Mar. 5, 1889.

WW7? iva;

UNITED STATES PATENT (lament WILLIAM C. ENGEL, OF ASHLAND, PENNSYLVANIA;

PLATEHOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters lPatent No. 399,024, dated March 5, 1889.

Application filed March 15, 1888. $erial No. 267,280. (lie model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM G. ENGEL, a

citizen of the United States of America, re

siding at Ashland, in the county of Schuylkill and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Plate- Holders; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to certain new an d useful improvements in plate-holders designed to be attached to atable and secured to a plate so as to hold the same securely upon the table; and my invention consists in the construction and combination of the parts, as willbe hereinafter fully set forth, and specifically pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate my inventiolnFigure 1 is a perspective view of my improvement, and Fig. 2 is a side view.

A refers to an upwardly-projecting pin, which is rigidly attached to a base-plate, A, which is adapted to be rigidly or removably secured to the table, the pin being in a vertical position.

The base-plate A may be secured to the Ta ble by ordinary wood-screws, as shown in Fig. 1, orby a thumb-screw, as shown in Fig. 2.

B refers to a casting, which consists of a block, b, having a central opening of larger diameter than the pin A, which opening is biseated by an internally-screw-threaded per foration for the reception of a thumb-screw, a, for clamping the block rigidly to the pin A. From this block 1) projects an angle-arm, b, the outerend of which is spread, as shown, and to the bend is pivotally secured a jaw, O. The outer end of the casting B is provided with a slot, (Z, through which passes a thumbscrew, D, said thumb-screw engaging with a screw-threaded perforation in the pivoted j aw G.

The angle-arm h of the casting B is formed with an upward bend, starting from the block b, and then with a downward bend,

forming an elbow, W, at the intersection of the two bends. This angularity of the arm h places the downward-bent forward part thereof in such a position as to bear against the bevel-rim of the plate. The arm 0 is pivoted at the elbow b of the arm h, and is curved to increase the space bet-ween the two arms and to cause the end thereof to bear directly against the under side of the beveled rim of the plate. By loosening the clampingserew D and spreading the arms h and 0 various thicknesses of plate-rims may be engaged by the said arms, and by raising the block b on post A various heights of platerims may be readily grasped by the jaws.

The device hereinbetore described is adapt ed to hold a plate or dish upon a. table, and may be used either in railroad-cars or upon vessels or other places where the. table is likely to be inclined. It may'also be used on ordinary tables for feeding children.

By having the casting B movable upon the standard or pin A the device can be adjusted to suit dishes having upwardly-turn ed rims of different heights, and by means of the thumbscrew D the same may be readily attached and detached when desired I am aware that a book-support has been used wherein a vertical post is employed upon which two arms are mounted and are adjusted toward each other by being moved on the said post, one of said arms carrying a vertically-arranged clampirig-screw and that a book-support has been employed having a vertical post upon which two arms are vertically adjustable, one of said arms carrying a spring presser rod or pin for holding the leaves, and the other a vertical screw for holding the back of the book; also, that a bracket has been used having two verticallydisposed jaws movably mounted on a pintle carried by the rear end of an extended bracket-arm, said arms having a transverse clamping-screw passing therethrough, and that a carriage-lamp holder has been used wherein vertically disposed jaws are employed adapted to be attached to a dash-board of acarriage, and having an arm with a socket at its end engaged by a rearwardly-projectin shank for holding a lamp.

All of the above devices have substantially IOO straight arms or jaws, and suchI disclaim, as ble jaw pivoted to the elbow of the said sta- I employ a rigid jaw with an upward and tionary jaw, and a clamping-screw passing downward bend having another jaw pivoted through the ends of the two jaws, substanthereto. tially as described. 5 I claim In testimony whereofl affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM C. ENGEL.

In a plate-holder, the combination of the vertical post; A, stationarily secured to a base, i

a block, Z), adjustably mounted on the post A, having an integral stationary jaw formed IO with an upward and downward bend, a inova- \Vitnesses:

GEO. F. RENTZ, FRANK RENTZ. 

